Can someone explain the difference between a catback and the exhaust? Can you buy exaust without the catback? Does that give you sound without the power boost or are they really one in the same?

TIA

 

catback bolts on to the H pipe behind the catalytic converters,,,,,,hence catback - your piped mufflers and tips

exhaust bolts on to the sides of the engine - runs down under the car to the catalytic converters then through the H pipe and through the mufflers where it is expelled.
Essentially the entire piping system that exhausts is the exhaust

 

Someone can probably sell this to you, but I don't think it's street legal.
Offroad only, I think.

 

There are three sections to the C5's exhaust from the factory:
Exhaust manifolds, center section, and mufflers.
The center section from the factory has the cats and a crossover.

When someone mentions "mufflers", they mean just the mufflers,
that bolt onto the flanges of the center section, go over the rear
axle and hang on the back of the car. With no other mods, replacing
the mufflers will have essentially no effect on performance, only
sound.

When someone mentions "cat-back" - they're talking about cutting
off the piece of the center section that has the factory crossover,
installing a better-flowing crossover, then putting on mufflers.
When replacing the crossover pipe, there may be some small
performance gain, a handful of hp at the most.

The real gains can be had when you replace the whole exhaust:
Long tube headers, high-flow cats, true X-style crossover, and
mufflers, all usually of a larger diameter than stock.

 

Thank you everyone...so the basic gist is that if I want to buy Borla or Corsa performance exhaust...I can purchase a cat back system without replacing the entire exhaust.

Thanks again!

 

Thanks for that explanation. It is nice to see people go into detail like that. I know things here and there but I'm no motorhead by any means so some of the details aren't there ...

Let me hijack a couple things here ...

Most of the well known brands usually just sell the catback system without the headers don't they? What would a decent lt headers, exhaust, x-pipe combo run you?

Also, if you install the full system including headers, worth a tune?

 

That is correct.

 

I just had my 03 Z06 tuned... muffler change only, 372rwhp. Baselined 360rwhp.

 

That's it, and it's a piece of cake to replace. A lift makes it a piece of cake that is. Try to hear before you buy, and beware if you do exhaust, then headers. Totally different and maybe too much if you don't know what you're getting into.

 

We all started from nothing and had to learn somewhere!
I've always felt like part of the duty of someone with some
experience is to help pass it on.

Prices vary WIDELY. Since the Corvette is a fairly expensive
car, a lot of suppliers add what is known as the "Corvette tax";
raising the price considerably above what you might expect
to pay for a similar system, on say, a Mustang.

That said, you certainly get more when you buy a full stainless
system, rather than a less expensive aluminized steel system
in longevity, but the two systems could make the same power.

All I can really suggest is that you poke around and get a feel
for what systems are made of, what they cost, and what they
sound like. Then, keep an eye out for group purchases (GPs)
or someone selling a nearly-new used system in the For Sale
section. Quite often, sound is what makes or breaks your
enjoyment of an exhaust.

Absolutely. And there is another angle - you may be able
to find an experienced Corvette tuner in your area (or maybe
within a days' drive) that can install your new exhaust system
and do the tune as a package.

Don't be surprised to find a full system running $1500 and a
good dyno tune in the neighborhood of $500. These can be
had for considerably less if you are patient and do your
research so you know what you're getting.

Happy Hunting!